Events and storytelling are planned throughout the day to honor veterans near the war memorials in Washington.

Ceremonies began early Wednesday at the World War II Memorial, followed by an afternoon speeches at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. At the nearby Vietnam Women's Memorial, storytellers will be featured all day until 4 p.m.

Also, the cast of The American Century Theater will perform scenes at 2:30 p.m. from the play, "A Piece of My Heart," about women and their service during the Vietnam era.

Meanwhile, a group working to raise money to improve the National Mall is calling on visitors to help honor veterans by maintaining the memorials for many years to come. The mall has a deferred maintenance budget of more than $350 million.